You are speeding down the highway with no care in the world when you hear the police sirens and see that flash of lights in your rearview mirror. Ten minutes later and you have a speeding ticket. It’s a bummer, especially when you realize that the car that you’re driving isn’t yours.
So, what happens next? What do you do if you get a speeding ticket in a Crete rental car? For starters, you can relax and breathe. The worst part was getting the speeding ticket, and you aren’t the first person to ever get a speeding ticket in a rental car. In fact, the rules for a speeding ticket in a rental car in Crete are basically the same as getting a speeding ticket while in your own car.
There are two ways to pay a traffic fine in Crete.
Depending on the traffic violation, there may be an option to pay the fine in the local municipality office. For example, if the fine is for a parking ticket in Chania Port, you could pay it to the local municipality office. Make sure you read the directions on the back side of the paper ticket.
You should never try to avoid paying for the ticket. The rental car company is obliged to inform the authorities of all your personal details (full name, address, passport number, driving license number, email address, etc.) in order for them to get in touch with you and collect the fine.
It may take a few months or even years, but the authorities will reach out to you regarding the ticket, and this time, the cost may be double or triple. It's best to settle the ticket before your rental concludes.
Parking tickets are the easiest to settle, as you get the notification on the windscreen right away. Read the directions on the back side of the parking ticket, check where you can pay it sort it out as soon as possible.
Speeding tickets in Crete is more complex as you do not get a notification right away. The car rental company is informed via email within 2-3 days. Then they need to contact you regarding the ticket and the fine you should pay for the violation. You also need to sort it out and pay it before leaving the country.
Read also: Crete for Beginners: 10 Car Rental Tips for Beginners
Parking violations are usually from €20 to €80, depending on the type of parking violation. The most expensive fine is when you park your car in a Handicap reserved spot.
In such cases, the Police may also take your registration plate numbers or even tow away your rental car. In such case, you should directly contact the car rental company to sort it out. The fine should be paid right away to get the plate numbers back.
If you were cruising along and were pulled over and received a ticket from a police officer, you would handle the ticket in the same way you would if you were driving your own car. The rental car company has no bearing here.
If you were caught on video at a red light, then the ticket was issued via a license plate search, then the Crete rental car company will have to get involved. Traffic cameras take photographs, then traffic control personnel issue tickets based on whose name is associated with the car’s license plate number.
When speeding tickets in Crete are issued to the rental car company, the company will pay the ticket and bill you on your credit card afterward. Depending on the rental company, this process could rack up a few fees in addition to the speeding ticket. Why? Because the rental car company has to get involved and take extra steps to get the ticket paid off. The fees cover both the inconvenience and the process.
There’s always the option of contesting a speeding ticket, but you need to make the car rental company in Crete aware of your intentions. If the fine is canceled, there won’t be fees or repercussions from Crete car rentals. Traffic violations are commonplace so the company will understand either course of action.
Contesting a speeding ticket can go one of two ways. When you contest the speeding ticket after a police officer has given it to you, then you are essentially saying the officer was mistaken in their assessment of your alleged violation. It wouldn’t be the first time a police officer has made a mistake, but you need to be able to prove that in traffic court.
Contesting a speeding ticket works best in the second instance, which is when a camera or sensor snags your license plate. How does this course of action work?
Sometimes cameras and sensors can make mistakes. The images could be blurry from inclement weather, the numbers could be wrongfully entered, etc. If you can prove that you weren’t in the wrong place at the wrong time, then that would negate a speeding ticket.
When it comes to traffic violations in Crete, if you choose to contest, then you must present evidence that would make a traffic court rule in your favor. If a traffic court can’t prove definitively that you were in violation, then your speeding ticket will be tossed out.
Contesting a police officer becomes their word against yours, so it’s much easier to contest a sensor or camera that could have made a wrong call.
Absolutely! Speeding tickets and other traffic violations are 100% preventable and avoidable. By following the traffic laws while driving a rental car in Crete, or any time, you can safely navigate the roads without incident.
Driving a rental car in Crete can be an amazing experience, but unexpected situations can still occur. Here are some tips on how to deal with common unexpected situations while driving a rental car in Crete:
Remember, unexpected situations can happen while driving a rental car in Crete, but with the right mindset and preparation, you can handle them like a pro and continue to enjoy your travels.
